Legal approval has been granted for subscribers to obtain Number Portability Service among telecom service providers in Sri Lanka, says the Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL).

Preliminary steps on implementing this service were initiated by the TRCSL last year.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is a facility that allows mobile subscribers to retain their mobile numbers when switching from one service provider to another and creates an environment that fosters consumer choice.

Enabling subscribers to switch between service providers, removing the barriers and inconveniences automatically promotes effective competition among different telecom networks.

A document compiled by the TRCSL says this paves way for improving quality of service, network coverage which rewards the service providers who maintains networks successfully. Hence number portability was recognized as an important driver of competition by regulators around the world.

Number portability service benefits porting user and callers by eliminating the cost of informing other parties of the number, the need to reach directory enquiries and/or change entries in their address books or computer systems. It increases the competition for the telecom industry by lowering the cost to users of switching or service provider and improvements in service quality.

However, the subscribers need to be completely aware of the services offered by the new operator and the terms and conditions of the new contract prior to switching operators, as only the number that is ported but not the existing services or tariff plan given by the existing service provider along with the number.